Author of ‘Eze Goes To School’ Onuora Nzekwu dies at 89

Onuora Nzekwu is a Nigerian professor, writer and editor and also a co-author of the widely read ‘Eze Goes To School’. He co-wrote the novel with with historian Michael Crowder and also wrote ‘Troubled Dust’ a recount of the civil war experience.

He joined the Federal Civil Service as an editorial assistant at the Nigeria Magazine Division of the Federal Ministry of Information. Nzekwu worked as an editorial assistant from 1956 to 1958.

In 1958, he took over the position of editor-in-chief of the magazine. He continued to run the Nigeria Magazine Division of the Federal Ministry of Information until 1966, when the Nigerian Crisis compelled him to transfer his services to the Eastern Nigeria Public Service.

Onuora Nzekwu began as a senior information officer at Eastern Nigeria, a post that the combined the roles of Information Ministry and Cultural officer. In 1968, he was promoted deputy director of the newly created Cultural Division. At the end of hostilities in January 1970, Nzekwu returned to the Federal Ministry of Information in May and was assigned to the information division as senior information officer.

Nzekwu worked as Protem general manager of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) until July 1, 1979, when he then took over the position of substantive general manager. Nzekwu retired from the Nigeria Public Service in 1985, after presiding over the affairs of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) for nearly eight years and servicing his country’s government for 39 years.

The renowned author died on friday April 21th, in his home town, Onitsha, Anambra state at age 89.